Keeping A Cool Head: Stay Informed When Looking For A New Fridge

If you want a new fridge, check out this overview of key features you need to think through. The time has finally come to go out into the big, scary world of appliance shopping so you can replace that battered […]

If you want a new fridge, check out this overview of key features you need to think through.

The time has finally come to go out into the big, scary world of appliance shopping so you can replace that battered old refrigerator. With so many different features and options, shopping for a new fridge is a surprisingly daunting experience if you go in cold. But, by making sure you prepare, you’ll find yourself teaching the salesman a thing or two!

Top vs. Bottom Freezer vs. French Door

Right off the bat, the biggest decision is one you can make before you even step out of the house – what type of fridge to get. When it comes to fridges, there are three main types – top freezer, bottom freezer and French door. The difference? Top freezer and bottom freezer speak for themselves but French door fridges are bottom-freezers that come with double doors. But the important differences come in what becomes readily available when you open up and the cost of purchase.

While a top freezer fridge tends to be a good deal cheaper and is great for those on a budget, it does not tend to favour easy access to fresh food items and shorter people or children can struggle to take items from the freezer.

On the other hand, bottom freezers put your fresh food at eye-level, making it easy to just open up and take whatever you want. As long as you don’t mind bending down to reach for frozen goods, they are ideal and well worth the extra cost.

Another tier up is the French door freezer, which allows access to items while only needing to open part of the fridge. This exposes less of the fridge to room temperature, conserving energy so the extra cost can be easily recouped through electricity savings.

Space & Energy Consumption

Other things to bear in mind include the dimensions of the space you’re filling and the doorways you’ll have to pass through, energy efficiency (be sure to look at the actual amount of energy used, not just the star rating) and the size of your family (no need to go massive if you’re on your own and don’t entertain much, after all). When measuring your space, make sure to leave at least 2.5cm on either side, 5cm at the back and 10cm over the fridge as this allows the fridge to vent the heat straight into the environment more easily and reduces energy costs.

Another alternative you can look into is the range of compact fridges, such as Fisher & Paykel’s CoolDrawer, which you can fit into smaller kitchens and apartments if your fresh food requirements are more modest.

So that’s all there is to it, just remember to keep your needs in mind so that you don’t overspend or find yourself struggling to decide. Find a shop assistant and make sure they know exactly what you’re looking for and you’ll be in and out with your new refrigerator in no time!